One of the most important festivals is New Year's day. On that day it is lucky for a man to enter the house first, and to receive money. It is an old custom not to remove the ashes or throw out any water. The 12th Day is the next and on that there are twelve rush candles lighted. The rushes are pulled and dipped in tallow. A cake is made of cowdung and ashes in which the little candles are placed and then the rosary is recited by the family of the house. On St. Patrick's day the shamrock is worn. On Shrove Tuesday there are pancakes made and eaten. On St. Stephen's day the wren boys visit each house. The sing and dance and get pennies to bury the wren.Mary Geoghegan